Arizona DPS Helicopter Crashes: Investigators confirmed that an Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) helicopter went down near the site of an officer-involved shooting in Flagstaff on Wednesday. The crash occurred north of Historic Route 66, between Thomson Street and Mark Lane.
Arizona DPS Helicopter Crashes: What Happened?
The incident occurred in the area north of Historic Route 66, between Thomson Street and Mark Lane.
Authorities said that no officers were injured during the shooting, and the suspect is now in custody. However, Flagstaff police have not yet confirmed whether there were any casualties in the helicopter crash.
Amanda Brewer, a local resident, described hearing three gunshots followed by two more around 8:40 p.m. She immediately called 911 and said officers arrived on the scene within minutes.
A video showing the helicopter crash has also circulated on social media platform X, drawing significant attention.
WATCH: Video shows the moment an Arizona DPS helicopter spun out of control before crashing during a response to a shooting in Flagstaff, AZ.
The suspect, who exchanged gunfire with police officers several times, has been taken into custody, according to FLAGscanner. https://t.co/hLjOEM2MNz pic.twitter.com/KKgNg4XMXr
— AZ Intel (@AZ_Intel_) February 5, 2026
Arizona DPS Helicopter Crashes: What We Know So Far
Officials confirmed that all responding officers are safe and the suspect has been apprehended. The exact condition of the helicopter’s occupants has not yet been released.
Residents in the Flagstaff neighborhood were advised to remain indoors by around 9:15 p.m., as authorities requested that people stay away from the area.
FLAGscanner, a local news app providing real-time alerts in Flagstaff, shared several updates on Facebook. One post read, “URGENT ALERT: ACTIVE SHOOTER SITUATION. Avoid the Railroad Springs Area. If you are in the area of Mark Ln or Shellie, stay indoors and lock all windows and doors. Updates will be provided on our site.”
Later, at 9:24 p.m., another update warned, “UPDATE 9:24 PM: Officers have exchanged gunfire with the black male suspect multiple times. Drones and helicopters are responding. SWAT is arriving on scene. The suspect was on a roof shooting and has now jumped off the roof and is outstanding in the area. Stay indoors and keep all doors and windows locked. Do NOT answer any doors. SHELTER IN PLACE.”
At 9:57 p.m., FLAGscanner reported, “UPDATE 9:57 PM: Suspect is again firing multiple shots at officers from the area of Shellie Dr. SHELTER IN PLACE.”
The platform later confirmed that the suspect had been taken into custody and that the DPS helicopter crashed near the incident site. FLAGscanner wrote; “The shooting suspect involved in the incident near Mark Ln. and Shellie has been taken into custody. During the response, an Arizona DPS police helicopter crashed in the area north of the nearby railroad tracks. Due to the nature of that incident, we are not releasing the condition of the helicopter’s occupants until an official statement is provided by authorities.”
